Music: Prince; Luke James; Weezer
Prince has been effectively absent from the music scene in the 21st century, relevant more as a relic of a past era than as a living, breathing artist. His new album is unexpected; released with little of the fanfare befitting a cultural icon (or an artist formerly known as one).
Art Official Age
Warner Bros
Prince has been effectively absent from the music scene in the 21st century, relevant more as a relic of a past era than as a living, breathing artist. His new album is unexpected; released with little of the fanfare befitting a cultural icon (or an artist formerly known as one). It feels as though Prince was cryogenically thawed out – and he’s in on the joke (see: Clouds). “When life’s a stage/ In this brand new age/How do we engage?”
Luckily for Prince, he has redeployed on friendly territory. Today’s music scene is primed to receive him, given the current reigning blends of electronica, R&B, irony, androgyny and nuttiness. Think Janelle Monae, Miguel, How To Dress Well, or even Beyoncé. Prince fits right in – and Art Official Age is his best work in years.
Despite its weirdness, Art Official Age has an emotional urgency and directness that’s startling and seductive. Prince isn’t usually associated with barefaced emotion, but it improves him. The album ranges from classic electrofunk (The Gold Standard) to something more maudlin (Breakdown), and it’s uniformly sexy and convincing.
Luke James
Island/Def Jam
Luke James has the voice of an angel - and he knows how to use it. The New Orleans native went to high school with Frank Ocean, appeared in the Destiny's Child video for , penned hits for Chris Brown and Justin Bieber, released a number of acclaimed EPs and singles and, perhaps most impressively, toured the world opening for Beyoncé.
